Roller having retaining end plate and seal

ABSTRACT

A full complement bearing roller having an improved retaining end plate and seal, suitable for a carriage roller, a mast roller, a cam roller, a track roller and the like. The outer race is combined with a roller and the outer race or the inner race has an annular groove facing toward the space between the outer and inner races. The retaining end plate is provided with a series of spring lugs which engage in the annular groove, locking the end plate against the ends of the rollers and taking the thrust of the rollers. The end plate also has joined to it as by vulcanizing a rubber-like seal which engages the opposite radial member (inner or outer race) from the lugs. In the preferred embodiment the seal also fills the space between the lugs so as to complete the protection.

O United States Patent 1 1 1 3,752,543 Schmidt Aug. 14, 1973 1 ROLLERHAVING RETAINING END PLATE 3,409,337 11/1968 Foot: 308/1872 AND SEAL3,423,140 1/1969 Cowles 308/1872 [75] v Inventor: Heinrich K. Schmidt,Levittown, Pa. Primary miner chafles Myhre [73] Assignee: Roller BearingCompany of America, Assistant Examiner-Barry Grossman West Trenton, NJ.Attomey-Joseph Gray Jackson et al. [22] Filed: Feb. 16 1972 7 [21] Appl.No.: 226,725 [5 1 A full complement beanng roller having an improvedretaining end plate and seal, suitable for a carriage U.S. Cloner a hatroller a cam roller a track roller and the [51] Int. Cl. The outer aceis combined a roller and the of Search outer race or the inner ace hasan annular groove fag- 277/94, 95 ing toward the space between the outerand inner races. The retaining end plate is provided with a seriesReferences Cited of spring lugs which engage in the annular groove,lock- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing the end plate against the ends of therollers and tak- 3,473,856 10/1969 Helms 308/187.2 8 the thrust themuers- The end P am has 2,718,441 9/1955 Smith SOS/187.2 joined to it asy vukanizins 8 rubber-like Seal which 1,985,693 12/1934 Robinson308/1872 engage he ppo radial member (inner or Outer 2,639,954 5/1953Potterm' 308/1872 race) from the lugs. In the preferred embodiment the 951 I2/ 1959 WQrkman 303/1872 seal also fills the space between the lugsso as to com- 3, 1 1 1 1 3 t. the protection 3,266,856 8/1966 'Steinert308/l87.l 3,348,889 l0/l967 Schaeffler 308/187 .2

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures ROLLER HAVING RETAINING END PLATE AND SEALDISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The invention relates to an improved roller andespecially to an improved retaining end plate and seal for a fullcomplement anti-friction roller.

The invention is applicable to a variety of bearings in which the outerrace also performs the function of a roller, and the inner race may behollow and may function with a shaft, or may be part of a shaft or stud.In the invention either the outer or the inner race laterally of theends of the bearing rollers is provided with an annular groove or recessfacing toward the other race, which serves as a locking groove for theretaining end plate and seal. The retaining end plate is of stampedconstruction and has spring lugs projecting into the annular groove andserving to hold the retaining end plate against the thrust of thebearing rollers;

A rubber-like seal is bonded to the retaining end plate to contact theopposite race from the annular recess and in the preferred embodiment italso fills the space between the spring lugs and thus engages the racecontacted by the spring lugs.

A purpose of the invention is to obtain more protection against endthrust in the retaining and plate of a full complement bearing roller.

A further purpose is to avoid the tedious and expensive method ofproduction heretofore used on the retaining end plates.

A further purpose is to permit better locking of a re- LII taining endplate and so permit the use of thicker gauge material.

In the drawings I show several embodiments of the invention, choosingthe forms illustrated from the standpoints of convenience inillustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of theprinciples involved.

FIG. 1 is an axial section of a full complement roller according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the full complement roller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 1illustrating one form of the retaining end plate of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating another form ofretaining end plate of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of a variation in end elevation.

FIG. 7 is an axial section of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 showing a variation.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 showing a further variation.

FIG. 10 is an axial section of the metal stamping for the retaining endplate used in FIGS. 6 to 9.

FIG. 11 is an axial section of the complete retaining end plate and sealas used in FIGS. 6 to 9.

In the prior art at the present time full complement rollers are usedwith retaining end plates which in some cases have an annular grooveinto which a spring wire of polygonal form fits and locks in the groove.This retainer also has engaging the opposite race from that in which thewire is secured, an 0-ring fitting in a groove. These retaining endplates of the prior art are machined parts, hardened and ground, and arevery expensive to produce and tedious to install.

Attempts have been made in the prior art to make fluid seals forbearings which involved a metal stamping having an axial flange joinedto a rubber-like material,

the metal flange springing to move in a groove of ahousing. Workman,U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,345, granted Dec. 1., I959, for Fluid Seal. Theattempt to apply this principle to a retaining end plate holding inplace the bearing roller of a full complement roller has not met withsuccess since the metal gauge of the stamping must be so light to permitits spring function in that configuration that the device does not havesufficient strength to resist thrust of the bearing rollers.

In the present invention a robust stamped retaining end plate ispermitted, since the lugs by their lateral subdivision have adequatecompliance to permit inser tion withoutundue force. Accordingly, thepart can be fabricated without appreciable machining and installed veryeasily in the roller combination.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 an outer roller 20 which may be a carriage roller, mastroller, cam roller, track roller, toothless sprocket or the like (hereincalled a track" roller) as well known in the art has outside an endlesstrack surface 22 and inside, a raceway 24 on which run bearing rollers26 of a full complement bearing in the sense that each bearing roller isin contact or generally in contact with two rollers at the sides. Thebearing rollers run on an innerrace 28 which as shown for example ishollow in FIGS. 1 and 2 and 9 or which may be as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and8 a shaft or stud as later explained. The inner race has suitablelubrication openings.

In the forms of FIGS. 1 to 5 the bearing rollers have blunt ends 32 andare retained endwise by a flange 30 which is integral with the innerraceway, while in the forms of FIGS. 6 to 9 the bearing rollers havecurved ends 32' and are retained endwise solely by the end retainingplate of the present invention. In either case the retaining end platesconfine the rollers endwise and take the thrust of the outer race of thetrack roller;

The track roller has an annular groove 34 on its side opposite the innerrace in the form of FIGS. I to 5, this groove having a depth 36 remotefrom the bearing roll ers which is a maximum and merging at 38 over ataper as shown, to the diameter of the outer bearing race, providing arecess or groove for the retainer. At 40 on the ends the diameter of theinside of the track roller is preferably larger than the diameter of theouter bearing race, although it can optionally be the same as the outerbearing race, providing adequate anchorage for the retaining end plateis obtained. An end plate 50 as shown in FIG. 3 consists of a metalstamping which has a retainer end wall 52 which is preferably a ring atright anglesto the axis, from which stem a plurality ofcircumferentially distributed spaced spring lugs 54 whose normalposition is diagonally out from the axis and so have a locking tendencywhen inserted into the groove 34. The ends of the lugs 54 abut thedeepest part of the groove at 36. These lugs are adequately spaced sothat they will not interfere and they may have the spacing shown inFIGS. 10 and II in a slightly different form. By choosing the desiredwidth for the lugs, the spring force to be overcome in inserting thelugs into the recess 34 can be selected, and the force retaining thelugs into the recess 34 correspondingly chosen. The ring has a tubularwall 56 at its radial inside from which it is deflected in another ring58 still further to the inside.

The ring 58 in FIG. 3 has adhering to its endwise surface 60 nearest theends of the bearing rollers rubberlike material 62 which is alsoadhering to the radial inner edge 64'of the stamping and has an inwardlyannular lip 66 deflected toward the ends of the bearing rollers andexerting sealing pressure on the upper edge of the flange 30 at 68 asshown in FIG. 3. In order to accomplish the bonding between therubber-like material and the metal stamping which will preferably beepoxy-coated or of steel, the steel may be brass plated if desired andany of the well-known techniques for obtaining a bond between rubber andmetal may be used in any of the forms of this invention. It will beevident of course that a rubber preferably will be vulcanized in contactwith the metal to achieve a firm bond in the various forms.

In operation therefore when the end plate is inserted axially to theposition shown in FIG. 3 to lock the lugs in the groove 34, the endplate serves to hold the track roller from shifting longitudinally withrespect to the bearing rollers and the inner bearing race while a sealis accomplished at 70- at the outside between the track roller and theend plate on the base of the lugs and a seal is accomplished at 68between the rubber-like sealing material and the inner bearing race.

In FIG. 4 the end plate may be substantially the same as shown in FIG.3, except that the ring like portion 52 is narrower, and the tubularportion 56 is inwardly tapering as it progresses toward the ends of thebearing rollers, making a pocket into which the rubber-like material 62'is adhered and locked, at the same time adhering to the ring portion 58.The side of the rubberlike material remote from the ringportion 58 hascomolded and adhering to it a metal ring 72 which strengthens andstiffens the side of the inner projecting rubber-like material 66 whichis toward the ends of the bearing rollers. The sealing lip 66' projectsradially inward.

FIG. shows a preferred end plate 50 which may be the same as that ofFIGS. 3 and 4 except that the ring 58 has a shortly radial extent. Inthis form the rubberlike material 62 is preferably molded and adheringover the surface 74 of the ring 52 remote from the bearing rollers, overthe outside surface 76 of the tubular portion 56, over the end surface78 remote from the bearing rollers and over the inner edge 64 of the endplate. An annular lip 66 is formed of the rubber-like material on theinside projecting beyond the end plate and this engages the flange 30 at68.

The particular distinctive feature of the embodiment of FIG. 5, which isthe preferred embodiment, is that it also has rubber-like material at 80adhering to the sides of the lugs and extending at 82 continuously onthe radial inner side of the lugs. Thus, with the lugs themselves inthis form a sealing edge 70' is formed which seats in the taperingrecess all around the end plate.

The principles of the invention can be equally well applied to a rollersuch as a cam roller in which the lugs 54 hold the end plate on therecess on the inside of the inner race and also hold the track roller onthe outside against shifting its position axially as shown inFIGS. 6 to9. In FIGS. 6 to 8 the inner race 28 or 28 (differing simply in the sizeof the stud) has threads 90 on the end as well known to anchor the camroller, has interior lubricating passages 92 (which may be plugged ateither end as desired) and has at the outer end a screwdriver groove-94and a wrench engaging portion 96.

The end plate 50' is a reversal of the end plate previously described inthat it has spaced lugs 54 around the inside of the periphery divergingfrom the axis radially inwardly and spaced from one another as best seenin FIGS. 10 and 11. At the radial outside the end plate has a tubularaxial flange 56 projecting from the end ring 52. Over the side of thechannel-like section and between the lugs as best seen in FIG. 1 1,there is a rubberlike layer 62 which extends over the radial inside ofthe portion 56 and its end, the face of the ring 52' remote from thebearing rollers, the radial outside of the lugs 54 and the space betweenthe lugs. It also projects at 66 to form a radial lip around the outsidewhich engages and seals at 68 in a ring recess 97 on the end of thetrack roller and outer race beyond a shoulder 98. The annular recess 34'in the inner race or shaft has a tapering portion as already describedwhich conforms to the lugs in expanded position and has an abutmentportion 100 which prevents dislodgment and which may be an annular bosson the shaft as in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 or an extension of the inner race asin FIG. 9. For additional support a snap ring 102 is provided in FIG. 8.It will be understood that the end plate and seal is preferably used atboth ends of the bearing rollers, but it may be used on one end of thebearing rollers only, using some other type of end plate at the otherends of the bearing rollers.

In assembling the structure of FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, the bearing rollers maybe assembled on either the inner or outer races, the other race pushedon from the end and then both end plates and seals pushed on from theopposite ends, and their end lugs locked in the annular groove, which inthis case is on the inner race and faces toward the outer race. Inassembling the structure of FIG. 8, the end plate and seal nearest thethreads is first assembled on the shaft or stud forming the inner race,and the bearing rollers are assembled on either the inner race or theouter race and the other race pushed on from the end and then the otherend plate and seal is inserted in place.

It will be understood that while in the form of FIGS. I to 5 the endplate holds the track roller in position with respect-to the bearingrollers and the flange 30 holds the bearing rollers in position withrespect to the inner race, in the form of FIGS. 6 to II the end thrustof the bearing rollers and also of the track roller is theresponsibility of the end plate or plates, the sealing function beingadditionally performed by the seal.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I therefore claim allsuch insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of myclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A self-contained antifriction roller comprising an outer track rollerhaving on the inside a roller bearing race, an inner bearing raceopposite from the outer bearing race and within it, a plurality of fullcomplement bearing rollers riding on the outer race and the inner race,an annular locking recess on the end of one of the races facing towardthe other race beyond the end of the bearing roller, a resilientmetallic end plate having a ring portion contacting the ends of thebearing rollers and supporting thrust loads on the outer race of rollersagainst the inner race in both directions, having adjoining the lockingrecess and disposed away from the bearing rollers a plurality ofannularly distributed metallic spring lugs which protrude from the ringand which engage in the recesses, the lugs having their greatest depthremote from the end of the bearing rollers and tapering to a minimumdepth adjoining the end of the bearing rollers, and rubber-like materialadhering to the end plate, intruding between the lugs, and forming withthe lugs a continuous seal at the locking recess and having at theopposite end a molded on annular lip extending continuously around thecircumference and engaging and sealing on the race opposite to the racewhich has the locking recess, the rubber-like material being omittedfrom the ring at the end adjoining the bearing rollers.

2. A roller of claim 1, in which the locking recess is in the trackroller and the lugs engage in it.

3. A roller of claim 1, in which the locking recess is in the inner raceand the lugs engage in it.

4. A roller of claim 1, having a tubular portion on the side away fromthe ends of the bearing rollers adhering to the rubber-like materialremote from the bearing rollers, the radial outside of the tubularportion of the end plate and the face of the annular portion remote fromthe bearing rollers.

1. A self-contained antifriction roller comprising an outer track rollerhaving on the inside a roller bearing race, an inner bearing raceopposite from the outer bearing race and within it, a plurality of fullcomplement bearing rollers riding on the outer race and the inner race,an annular locking recess on the end of one of the races facing towardthe other race beyond the end of the bearing roller, a resilientmetallic end plate having a ring portion contacting the ends of thebearing rollers and supporting thrust loads on the outer race of rollersagainst the inner race in both directions, having adjoining the lockingrecess and disposed away from the bearing rollers a plurality ofannularly distributed metallic spring lugs which protrude from the ringand which engage in the recesses, the lugs having their greatest depthremote from the end of the bearing rollerS and tapering to a minimumdepth adjoining the end of the bearing rollers, and rubber-like materialadhering to the end plate, intruding between the lugs, and forming withthe lugs a continuous seal at the locking recess and having at theopposite end a molded on annular lip extending continuously around thecircumference and engaging and sealing on the race opposite to the racewhich has the locking recess, the rubber-like material being omittedfrom the ring at the end adjoining the bearing rollers.
 2. A roller ofclaim 1, in which the locking recess is in the track roller and the lugsengage in it.
 3. A roller of claim 1, in which the locking recess is inthe inner race and the lugs engage in it.
 4. A roller of claim 1, havinga tubular portion on the side away from the ends of the bearing rollersadhering to the rubber-like material remote from the bearing rollers,the radial outside of the tubular portion of the end plate and the faceof the annular portion remote from the bearing rollers.